A/N: Many thanks to HEW for help with this chapter

Chap 21A

"Here you go, Trance," said Doyle as the two women stopped near a large tent with a red cross predominately displayed near the entrance . "Harper and I will meet you in the mess tent this evening.."

"Are you sure you're going to be OK Doyle?" asked Trance anxiously, practically wringing her hands in agitation. "Everyone says that the company will be attacking soon."

Doyle shifted the rocket launcher that was slung over her shoulder into a more comfortable position. "Harper and I will be fine," she said "You'll be fine too. It's Rhade you'll need to worry about when the attack comes." She checked the harness of her gauss rifle, making sure it fell into place at her side when she let go of it. "But right now I need to keep an eye on Harper before he blows something up that shouldn't be blown up. He's supervising the planting of some more command activated mines. "

As Trance entered the tent that served as the umwa field hospital she could feel the tension in the air. The air in the tent practically crackled with it. There had been several small attacks on the umwa positions over the past few days as Burma probed the umwa defenses. Everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before he launched a serious attack. The only person in the tent one who wasn't obviously nervous was Inara. She had been a nurse in a forward aid station during the war with Ehime, but from the way she kept adjusting her clothes Trance realized she was just a worried as the rest of them. If anything Inara had even more reason to be worried than the rest of them. Her husband, Matt, was Rhade's XO, and it was no secret that casualties were expected to be high in Rhade's unit.

Feeling the need to do something, anything, Trance adjusted the sheets on one of the cots that were serving as hospital beds There weren't enough cots. There wasn't enough of anything. Prior to the commencement of hostilities Avineri and the other umwa leaders has spent the bulk of their time preparing the umwa's military defenses. The hospital and medical supplies had been a distant second, or even third place, in their concerns. The stockpiling of medical supplies had just begun when Burma launched his preemptive attack. In the initial confusion during the early part of the fighting a fair number of umwa family members and supporters had made it out of south-side and into the Divide, bringing with them some much needed medical supplies, but now company forces controlled access to the Divide. Barring another supply drop from Andromeda the umwa was totally dependent on its own resources, which were scanty at best. The only good thing about the situation was that so far casualties had been light and after initial treatment the wounded had been able to leave the hospital to recover at one of the local farmhouses.

Inara walked over to one of the women who had served with her as a medical corpsman during the last war. She had introduced her to Trance as Yan. Accompanying her was a youngish man, perhaps in his mid thirties, Dr. Ione the umwa's only doctor. It wasn't just supplies that the umwa was short of. Not counting Ione and Inara, the field hospital had one additional nurse, three individuals who had been medical corpsmen in the territorial defense force, and a dozen untrained orderlies, including Trance.

Ione placed a hand on the corpswoman's shoulder and began to speak to her. Trance assumed that he was giving her words of encouragement. There was something familiar about Dr. Ione. Trance was sure she had seen him before, but couldn't remember when. Maybe the plaza massacre or the Argyle cave in, or maybe not. She couldn't remember where or when, but she was sure she knew him from somewhere else. From some looks he had given her she felt that he was trying to remember where he had seen her before as well.

Ione's words of encouragement and Ttrance's speculations were both interrupted by a voice coming over the hospital's two-way. "Anaguma six this is Anaguma one. We have visual contact on multiple vehicles headed your way."

"That's our cue," said Ione. The nervousness that Trance had noticed earlier in Ione vanished as abruptly as if someone had thrown a switch. "Time to get set up. Yan, when the causalities arrive I want you to use that fancy blood typer we have and get their blood types. We aren't going to have nearly enough universal blood substitute and we'll need blood donations from volunteers. I didn't want to waste time figuring out whose blood is compatible with whose.

"Everyone, we're short on quick clot as well. Don't hesitate to use it, but attempt to get bleeding under control or at least slowed down first before you do.

"One other thing. We all have friends and family on the line. I know you're going to be worried about them. But your main concern can't be on them. It has to be on our patients. You're not going to be any use to me if your mind is elsewhere. Is everyone clear on that?"

There was a chorus of agreement, and then a flurry of activity as the hospital staff set about preparing the tent for the expected casualties. Trance and another orderly had just finished helping Yan set up a battery powered portable ultrasound scanner when a voice came over the tent's two-way.

"Angel this is Stonewall five." Stronewall was the code name for the umwa main line of defense located a few kilometers behind Rhade's's position. Stonewall five was the call sign for Stonewall's executive officer. " We have casualties from Anaguma three and Anaguma four arriving at our location. The Tan's used gas on them. Over"

The tent went silent as Ione keyed the mike on the tent's two-way. His voice seemed calm, almost relaxed, as he spoke to Stonewall."Stonewall five this is Angel. I understand. The Tans used a chemical agent. Do you know the nature of the agent?"

"Angel, Stonewall five. That is affirmative. The Tan's used Em. Oh I say again the Tan's used Em Oh. Over"

If possible the room became even quieter. The only sound was Inara's gasp when she heard the nature of the gas the Tans used.

"Stonewall, Angel. How many casualties will be incoming?"

"Angel, Stonewall five. Twenty two. Over."

I understand twenty two gas casualties. How many other wounded are there?

There was a long pause then the voice on the two way continued. "Angel, Stonewall five. There are no other wounded. The Tans used fléchette rounds once our people were forced out of their positions. Over."

Trance had to grasp one of the tables in the tent to keep her balance when she heard Stonewall's words. Only twenty two survivors out of over 80 men and women. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths trying to steady herself. By the time she had her emotions under control and opened her eyes the conversation between Ione and Stonewall was over. The staff was silent, either stunned by the news or waiting for direction from Ione.

"Focus everyone" said Ione, still sounding as calm as if he and Stonewall five had been discussing a dinner party rather than a bloody battle. "We'll need to ensure the casualties are decontaminated before they come into the tent. Once they're decontaminated we can treat their injuries like any other injury."

Ione turned to one of the orderlies. A man whose name Trance had forgotten. "Find Avineri," he said. "Tell him that we're going to need hot water, lots of hot water. We need to set up some sort of bathing site outside the hospital. Tell him we need baking soda as well. There's probably some in the messing area"

He turned to another orderly. "Go into the tents. Tell everyone we need volunteers to help with the decontamination. Tell them to bring baking soda. And soap. Lots of soap. Clothing too. When the casualties arrive they'll need to get rid of their contaminated clothing. We'll need EBDs. I want everyone wearing one once the casualties arrive. You can't accidentally touch your eyes when your head's in an EBD hood."

Once the two orderlies were on their way he locked eyes with Trance. "I think I remember seeing some examination gloves with the supplies Rhade's friend sent us. Find them. We'll need them when we're treating the wounded. The decontamination team will need them too."

Trance returned a few minutes later carrying several boxes of disposable gloves and a pair larger items that looked like bundles of fabric. "Collapsible stretchers," she said. "We can send volunteers with them up to Stonewall to help move the wounded."

Ione nodded his head approvingly. "Good thinking." he said. "We can wash them down on the stretchers if we have to."

He turned his attention from Trance to Inara who had been standing quietly beside him. "Inara, you've had experience in this type of work. When the volunteers arrive I want you outside supervising the decontamination efforts. Make sure they do a good job and use the protective gear we provide. I don't want any one else getting exposed. Your husband won't be pleased with me if you can't kiss him when he returns because your lips are blistered."

Inara forced a smile. "No, I don't imagine he would be." She paused then continued. "You'll inform me if you get word about him?"

"Of course," said Ione as he handed Inara a box of gloves. "Here take these and start planning where you want to receive the casualties. And make sure your assistants follow proper safety precautions when removing the gloves. I don't want us doing the Tan's work for them."

A/N: Yes I know Inara is the name of one of the main characters in Firefly/Serenity. It's also a pretty name. I like it so I used it especially since I had already decided on the name Mat Fairweather for a minor charcter